Why Shadows are Not Just Darker Colors

Shadows... why are they so hard to paint?

Well, here it is: shadows aren’t just darker colors. But what are they really, well... that's what we'll see today.

Why Shadows Are NOT Just Darker Colors

Seurat, The Gardener - 1882

▶ TRY THIS: Next time you paint, identify the temperature of your light source first, then adjust your shadows accordingly to try to make it vibrate.

1. Shadows Have a Temperature – And It Makes Them Vibrate

What color is a shadow? Most people think, oh, it’s just a darker version of the local color. Nope. Shadows have temperature, and if you ignore that, you flatten your painting.

Here’s the trick: Color Temperature in the Shadows should be treated as some sort of VIBRATION.

It's not just about realism, have fun with this idea: A golden sunset? Try blue/purple shadows. A cloudy, overcast sky? Why not make your shadows warm and earthy, why not green?

*Detail - Notice the brush strokes reinforcing the notion of vibrating temperatures.*

▶ TRY THIS: Next time, don’t just mix one shadow color—mix two or three. Add a slightly cooler tone near the darkest parts and a warmer one where light bounces in.

2. Shadows Are NOT Just One Flat Color

Ever seen a painting where the shadows look like a big, lifeless blob? That’s what happens when shadows are treated as just a single, flat tone.

Here’s what’s really happening: shadows are layered. There’s core shadows, reflected light, and transitions. Some areas are crisp and dark, others are soft and glowing. Classical painters knew this and made shadows rich with color and life.

Check the variety of values in the shadows.

▶ TRY THIS: Identify a major shadow in your next painting and ask yourself, what colors are nearby? Now, sneak a little of that color into the shadow.

3. Reflected Light: The Hidden Color in Shadows

This is the part that most beginners miss. Light doesn’t just stop when it hits an object—it bounces. A red shirt? It’s throwing warm tones into the shadows. A blue sky? It’s cooling down the shadows under a nose, a chin, or a tree.

Check out a classical portrait. Look at the jawline. There’s usually a soft, warm glow right at the edge of the shadow. That’s reflected light at work, keeping the form from looking too harsh.

▶ TRY THIS: Replace black with a deep, dark color mix. Ultramarine + burnt sienna? Instant rich shadow. Experiment with transparent pigments—they make shadows glow.

My favorite? Quinacridone Magenta + Phtahlo Green (explosive!)

4. Never Use Black for Shadows (Well… Almost Never)

Black is convenient. But pure black? It kills the vibrancy of a shadow. The Old Masters rarely used black alone for shadows. Instead, they mixed deep colors like burnt umber, ultramarine, or alizarin crimson to create rich, lively darkness.

*Black is great for painting, until it kills everything. Don't let that happen!*

So, what did we learn? Shadows aren’t just dark blobs. They have temperature, complexity, reflected light, and variation. Get them right, and your paintings will instantly look more vibrant.

Next time you paint, don’t just darken—observe. Shake your shadow colors and make them vibrate!